Improvement in air-springs



UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WEBSTER WELLS, or BOSTON, MASSAcHUSETTs, ASSIGNOR To HIMSELF AND THOMAS F. WELLS, or SAME PLAcE.

IMPROVEMENT IN AIR-SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,240, dated June 27, 1876; application filed February 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WEBSTER WELLS, of Boston, of the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful or Improved Air-Spring for Railway-Garriages or various other devices in which it may be advantageously employed; and do hereby the same to be fully described in the following specification and represented in the accompany drawings, of which Figures 1 and 3 are axial and transverse sections of it 'as constructed with a chambered plunger, Fig. 2'exhibiting it with a solid or unchambered plunger. Fig. 4 is an external elevation of its flexile or elastic tubular packmg.

My invention relates to or consists in an air-spring, constructed substantially as hereinafter explained, composed of an elastic or flexile tubular'and flange packing, a plunger or piston, a'base-plate, and a tubular surrounding-case, all arranged and combined essentially as set forth; also, in the combination of the plunger, the tubular and flange packing, and a base or plate, all as set forth; also, in the plunger and the packing chambered, and having the chambers opening into each other; also, in the combination of one.or more hoops or rings circumscribing the tubular packing, with such packing and the case or cylinder surrounding it.

In Fig. 1, B is a hollow cylinder or tubular case having a flange at its lower end, to which is fastened a plate or base, A. The other end is open for receiving a plunger, 0, in manner as represented, the whole inclosing a space,

which is made and kept air-tight by a'flexible tubular packing, D, constructed of caoutchouc or other suitable material. This packing, of a cylindrical or other proper form, and of suitable thickness, has flanges a b at its ends, as shown. One flange, b, is secured between the plate A and the flange c of the case B. The other flange, a, is fastened to the plunger 0 by a screw-bolt, e, a nut, f, bridge 9, and a perforated disk, E, arranged as shown in Fig.

v1, or by any suitable means which will permit free communication between the air-space in the plunger and that in the vessel or packing D. I prefer to make a number of moldings around the outside of the packing D, in order to sustain one or more hoops or rings of metal, F, encompassing such packing. These hoops or rings are to prevcntthe air, when compressed in the packing D, from pressing it against the surface of the case B, which, in the event of such, would tend to wear out and finally fracture the vessel or packing D.

The plunger 0 may be chambered, as in Figs. 1 and 3; or it may be solid or unchambered, as shown in Fig. 2. The hollow plunger having the chamber adds to the air space, and gives more elasticity to the spring than when the plunger is unchambered.

I prefer to make the diameter of the plunger O somewhat less than that of the encompassing case B, in order to insure proper steadiness, ease of motion, and least possible friction.

The device described constitutes an airspring, and is rendered more effective and elastic for a heavy load by compressing the air within it by the use of an air-pump or other suitable means, which may beaccomplished as follows: His a screw fitting a hole in the plate A, the inner end of the hole being covered by a valve, G. To charge the spring with air, I first remove the screw, and next force air through the aperture thus formed. The pressure of the air will force the valve from its seat. The air within the plunger and packing may be compressed to any desirable extent. On the air-compressing apparatus being removed, the valve will shut automatically, and thus prevent leakage or escape of air. The screw H should next be replaced. As a further precaution against leakage, the screw may be fitted with a rubber washer.

To prevent the plunger from being forced out of the cylinder by the compression of the air, I provide the case B and the plunger 0 with stop-shoulders h 01, arranged as shown.

Figs. 2 and 3 are modifications of the spring,

but both contain all the essential or principal features. In both Figs. 2 and 3 the plunger G is made with a flange, I, at its inner end, to

serve the same purpose as the hoops or rings F-that is, to prevent the packing from being forced against the cylinder 13, and worn thereby. In Fig. 3, instead of the perforated disk E, as used in Fig. 1, I employ a perforated ring, J, for the same purposethat is, to fasten the flange of the packing D to the plunger 0 by means of screw-bolts and nuts. This construction would be better in the larger springs.

The spring, as described, may be used in any proper position; but I prefer to have it inverted, in order to prevent the accumulaother uses.

It Will be observed that the cylinder B is used to fasten the rubber vessel or packing to the plate A, and to prevent the plunger from being driven out by the compressed air.

I claim as my invention as follows, viz.:

1. The air-spring constructed, substantially as described, viz., of the elastic or flexile tubular and flange packing D, the plunger 0, base A, and the hollow cylinder or case B, all arranged and combined essentially as specified.

2. The combination of the plunger 0, tubular and flan'ge'packing D, and the base A, arranged substantially as set forth.

3. The plunger 0 and the packing D, chainbered and opening into each other, as explanned.

WEBSTER WELLS. Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, J. R. SNOW. 

